Image processing apparatus and method and storage medium storing program

ABSTRACT

An image processing apparatus which outputs an index print of information representing a plurality of pictures having picture size of different aspect ratios, with each of the plurality of pictures being respectively assigned a number in numerical order. The image processing apparatus detects size information for each of the plurality of pictures based on the respective aspect ratios, and a picture output order different from the numerical order is determined based on the detected size information for each of the plurality of pictures.

This application is a divisional of application No. 09/089,428 filedJun. 3, 1998.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus forrealizing a photographic printer (or photoprinter) that is adapted toproduce an index print of information representing a plurality of imagesinputted from an image input device, for example, a digital camera, on,for instance, a single sheet of printing paper.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, digital cameras have come into wide use. As a simplemeans for printing and outputting pictures taken by digital cameras,there have been proposed photoprinters adapted so that image data isinputted thereto by connecting digital cameras directly thereto or bysetting a storage medium, which stores image data representing picturestaken by digital cameras. Further, some of these proposed photoprintersinclude the function of forming an index print of image data, which arestored in a digital camera connected thereto or in a storage medium settherein, on, for example, a sheet of printing paper so that picturesrepresented by the image data are printed thereon in a small size. Suchan index print permits users to check a plurality of images at a time,and facilitates selection of one of the pictures.

However, in the case of using such conventional photoprinters, the orderin which pictures are printed on an index print sheet depends on numbersrespectively assigned to the pictures in a digital camera or a storagemedium, and is, for instance, a photographing order. Thus, theconventional photoprinters have the following drawbacks.

Namely, in the case of producing an index print which is a single printcomposed of a plurality of pictures of print sizes of different aspectratios, such as a normal size and a panorama size, when these picturesare arranged and printed in the order of the aforementioned numberassigned to each thereof, a result of producing the index print isobtained as illustrated in FIG. 6. Namely, 4 pictures, whose print sizesare a normal size or a panorama size, are arranged on each line or row.Incidentally, a number assigned to each of the pictures is a picturenumber. Among these pictures, the print size of pictures Nos. 4′, 10′,13′ and 15′ is the panorama size. However, as is seen from the resultantindex print illustrated in FIG. 6, the conventional photoprinterproduces an index print which excels in the indexing ability but has adefect in that pictures of a panorama size are small and are difficultto view.

Turning to FIG. 7, there is shown an index print produced by enlarging apicture of a panorama size so that the longitudinal dimension of thepanorama size is equal to the longitudinal dimension of a normal size.Although pictures of the panorama size in this case are easy to view,only one picture of the panorama size can be placed on a row. Thus, aline feed (operation) is forcibly performed each time a picture of thepanorama size is printed. This results in a large wasteful or uselessspace on a sheet of printing paper. Thus the appearance of the indexprint is poor. Moreover, printing paper is wasted.

The present invention is directed to eliminating the aforementioneddrawbacks of the conventional photoprinter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an imageprocessing apparatus for obtaining an index print which excels in theindexing ability and looks attractive without making wasteful space, inan image editing system for layout of a plurality of images of differentsizes.

To achieve the foregoing object, in accordance with the presentinvention, there is provided an image processing apparatus foroutputting an index print of information representing a plurality ofimages, which comprises: input means for inputting the plurality ofimages to which numbers are respectively assigned; means for detectingsize information on image sizes of the plurality of images; decisionmeans for determining an outputting order, which is different from anumerical order determined by the numbers respectively assigned to theplurality of images, according to the size information on image sizes ofthe plurality of images; and output means for outputting the pluralityof images according to the outputting order.

Other features, objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description of preferred embodimentswith reference to the drawings in which like reference charactersdesignate like or corresponding parts throughout several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a result of producing an index print in afirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of the firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a photoprinter of thefirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a result of producing an index print in asecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a photoprinter of thesecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a first example of a result ofproducing an index print by a conventional photoprinter; and

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a second example of a result ofproducing an index print by a conventional photoprinter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the present invention aredescribed in detail by referring to the accompanying drawings.

First Embodiment

Hereunder, a first embodiment of the present invention is described. Inthis embodiment, image data, which represent pictures taken by a digitalcamera and are stored in an internal memory of the aforesaid digitalcamera, and are read therefrom. Then, the order in which the picturesare arranged according to the sizes of the pictures is changed.Subsequently, an index print of the image data is produced asillustrated in FIG. 1. Namely, as shown in FIG. 1, only pictures of anormal size are printed in a first or former half of the index print insuch a way that four such pictures are printed on each row or linethereof. Further, only pictures of a panorama size are printed in asecond or latter half of the index print in such a manner that one suchpicture is printed on each row.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of the firstembodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 10 designates a digital camera thatcomprises: a camera portion 11 which converts a picture taken through alens (not shown) into an electrical signal by means of a photoelectricconversion element or device or the like, and stores image datarepresenting the taken picture, together with attribute informationindicating a corresponding picture number and a picture size thereof;and an interface portion 12 which reads the image data and the attributeinformation from the camera portion 11 in accordance with a commandtransmitted from a photoprinter (to be described later). Further, aninterface cable 30 connects the digital camera 10 with a photoprinter20.

The photoprinter 20 consists of a control portion 21, a buffer memory 22and a recording portion 23 which prints image data on a recordingmedium, namely, printing paper by employing, for example, an ink jetmethod. The control portion 21 composed of CPU 211 and ROM 212 issuesvarious commands to the digital camera 10 and causes the buffer memory22 to store input image data and to output image data to the recordingportion 23 correspondingly to rows or lines of an index print,respectively. Incidentally, in the case of this embodiment, image datarepresenting four pictures of the normal size are outputtedcorresponding to each line of the first half of an index print, whileimage data representing a single picture of the panorama size isoutputted corresponding to each line of the second half thereof. It isassumed that these operations of the control portion 21 are performed inaccordance with a program stored in ROM 212.

Next, an operation of the control portion 21 of the photoprinter 20 inthe case of producing an index print is described in detail hereinbelowwith reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3.

First, in step S1, the initial values of variables x and n are set at 0and 1, respectively. Incidentally, the variable x indicates the numberof pictures of the normal or standard size stored in the buffer memory22 in such a manner as to be laid on a row or line of interest of theprinting paper, and the maximum value of the variable x is 4. Further,the variable n designates the image No. of an image or picture ofinterest, which is represented by image data now inputted from thedigital camera 10.

Subsequently, in step S2, the control portion 21 requests the digitalcamera 10 through the interface cable 30 to send the attributeinformation, such as size information on the size of an image No. n,namely, information representing what is called the size ratio of thenormal or standard size or the panorama size. Then, in step S3, it isjudged whether or not detected attribute information is a codeindicating an end of image data. If so, the control portion 21 advancesto step S11. In contrast, if not, the control portion 21 proceeds tostep S4.

In step S4, the control portion 21 judges from detected attributeinformation which of the normal size and the panorama size the size ofthe image of interest, namely, the image No. n is. If the image ofinterest is of the panorama size, the control portion 21 advances tostep S10 whereupon the variable n is updated by being changed into(n+1). Then, the control portion 21 returns to step S2. Namely, thus, inthe case that the image of interest is of the panorama size, the controlportion 21 bypasses this image and changes an image of interest to thenext image by incrementing the variable n. In contrast, if it is judgedin step S4 that the image of interest is of the normal size, the controlportion 21 advances to step S5.

In step S5, the control portion 21 requests the digital camera 10 tosend image data representing the (current) image No. n, and furtherstores the inputted image data representing this image No. n in thebuffer memory 22. Subsequently, the control portion 21 goes forward tostep S6 whereupon the variable x is updated by being changed into (x+1).Then, the control portion 21 advances to step S7.

In step S7, it is judged whether or not the variable x has reached 4. Ifnot, the control portion 21 proceeds to step S10 whereupon the variablen is updated by being changed into (n+1). Then, the control portion 21returns to step S2. In contrast, if it is found in step S7 that X=4, thecontrol portion 21 goes forward to step S8.

In step 8, the variable x is reset to 0. Then, the control portion 21advances to step S9 whereupon image data corresponding to four images ofthe normal size, which are stored in the buffer memory 22, are readtherefrom and these four images are printed on a line or row.Subsequently, the control portion 21 goes forward to step S10 whereuponthe variable n is updated by being changed into (n+1). Then, the controlportion 21 goes back to step S2.

In the aforementioned process of repeating steps S2 to S10, if a codeindicating an end of image data is detected or recognized, the controlportion 21 advances to step S11. If there are image data representingpictures, which are not printed yet but are stored in the buffer memory22, in step S11, such pictures, the number of which is not more than 4,of the normal size are printed on a line. Thus, the printing of all ofthe pictures of the normal size is completed.

Thence, the control portion 21 initiates and performs a process ofprinting pictures of the panorama size. Namely, the control portion 21starts changing a picture of interest from a first one of the picturesof the panorama size in sequence. Further, only the pictures of thepanorama size are printed in such a way that each such picture isprinted on every row.

First, in step S12, the initial value of the variable n is set at 1.Then, the control portion 21 advances to step S13.

In this step S13, the control portion 21 requests the digital camera 10through the interface cable 30 to send the attribute information, suchas size information on the size of an image No. n, namely, informationrepresenting the size ratio of the normal or standard size or thepanorama size. Then, in step S14, it is judged whether or not detectedattribute information is a code indicating an end of image data. If so,the control portion 21 finishes performing this process illustrated inthis flowchart. In contrast, if not, the control portion 21 proceeds tostep S15.

In this step S15, the control portion 21 judges from detected attributeinformation which of the normal size and the panorama size the size ofthe image of interest, namely, the image No. n is. If the image ofinterest is of the normal size, the control portion 21 proceeds to stepS18 whereupon the variable n is updated by being changed into (n+1).Then, the control portion 21 goes back to step S13. Namely, thus, in thecase that the image of interest is of the normal size, the controlportion 21 bypasses this image and changes an image of interest to thenext image. In contrast, if it is judged in step S15 that the image ofinterest is of the panorama size, the control portion 21 proceeds tostep S16.

In this step S16, the control portion 21 requests the digital camera 10to send image data representing the (current) image No. n. Then, in stepS17, the inputted image data representing the image of the panoramasize, namely, this image No. n is printed in such a manner that thissingle image is printed on a row or line. Subsequently, the controlportion 21 advances to step S18 whereupon the variable n is updated bybeing changed into (n+1). Then, the control portion 21 returns to stepS13.

In the aforesaid process of repeating steps S13 to S18, if a codeindicating an end of image data is detected or recognized in step S14,the entire operation of printing of all of the pictures is completed. Asa consequence of the herein-above described operation, a resultant printis obtained in a manner where the pictures are arranged in theoutputting order that is different from the order based on the numbersrespectively assigned to the pictures, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

Incidentally, the pictures of the panorama size and the pictures of thenormal size can be placed in an upper part and a lower part of theprinting paper, respectively, by replacing a process consisting of stepsS1 to S11 of FIG. 3 with another process consisting of steps S12 to S18shown in the same figure.

Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention is described. In thisembodiment, image data, which represent pictures taken by a digitalcamera and are stored in an internal memory of the aforesaid digitalcamera, are read therefrom. Then, the order in which the pictures arearranged according to the size of the pictures is changed. Subsequently,an index print of the image data is produced as illustrated in FIG. 4.Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 4, the pictures are printed withoutconsiderably changing the order in which the pictures are arranged, insuch a way that four pictures of the normal sizes are printed on eachrow or line thereof and that one of pictures of the panorama size isprinted in each row.

The hardware configuration of the second embodiment is similar to thatof the first embodiment, namely, to that illustrated in FIG. 2.

Next, an operation of the photoprinter 20 in the case of producing anindex print is described in detail hereinbelow with reference to theflowchart of FIG. 5.

First, in step S21, the initial values of variables x, n and m are setat 0, 1 and 1, respectively. Incidentally, the variable x indicates thenumber of pictures of the normal or standard size, which are stored inthe memory in such a way as to be laid out on a row or line of intereston the printing paper, and the maximum value of the variable x is 4.Further, the variables m and n designate the image No. of an image orpicture of interest, which is of the normal size, and the image No. of apicture of interest, which is of the panorama size, respectively.

Subsequently, in step S22, the control portion 21 requests the digitalcamera 10 through the interface cable 30 to send the attributeinformation, such as size information on the size of an image No. n,namely, information representing the size ratio of the normal orstandard size or the panorama size. Then, in step S23, it is judgedwhether or not detected attribute information is a code indicating anend of image data. If so, the control portion 21 proceeds to step S37.In contrast, if not, the control portion 21 advances to step S24.

In this step S24, the control portion 21 judges from detected attributeinformation which of the normal size and the panorama size the size ofthe image of interest, namely, the image No. n is. If the image ofinterest is of the panorama size, the control portion 21 goes forward tostep S36 whereupon the variable n is updated by being changed into(n+1). Then, the control portion 21 goes back to step S22. Namely, thus,in the case that the image of interest is of the panorama size, thecontrol portion 21 bypasses this image and changes an image of interestto the next image by incrementing the variable n. In contrast, if it isjudged in step S24 that the image of interest is of the normal size, thecontrol portion 21 proceeds to step S25.

In this step S25, the control portion 21 requests the digital camera 10to send image data representing the (current) image No. n, and furtherstores the inputted image data representing this image No. n in thebuffer memory 22. Subsequently, the control portion 21 advances to stepS26 whereupon the variable x is updated by being changed into (x+1).Then, the control portion 21 goes forward to step S27.

In this step S27, it is judged whether or not the variable x has reached4. If not, the control portion 21 advances to step S36 whereupon thevariable n is updated by being changed into (n+1). Then, the controlportion 21 goes back to step S22. In contrast, if it is judged in stepS27 that X=4, the control portion 21 proceeds to step S28.

In this step 28, the variable x is reset to 0. Then, the control portion21 goes forward to step S29 whereupon image data corresponding to fourimages of the normal size, which are stored in the buffer memory 22, areread therefrom and these four images are printed on a line or row.Subsequently, the control portion 21 goes forward to step S30.

Next, in this step S30, the control portion 21 requests the digitalcamera 10 through the interface cable 30 to send the attributeinformation, such as size information on the size of an image No. n,namely, information representing the size ratio of the normal orstandard size or the panorama size.

In step S31, it is judged from the attribute information which of thenormal size and the panorama size the size of the image of interest is,namely, the size of image No. m. If the image of interest is of thenormal size, the control portion 21 advances to step S34 whereupon thevariable m is updated by being changed into (m+1). Then, the controlportion 21 proceeds to step S35. In this step S35, it is judged whetheror not the variable m reaches (n+1). If NO (N), the control portion 21returns to step S30. Conversely, if YES (Y), the control portion 21 goesback to step 36. In contrast, if it is judged in step S31 that thepicture of interest is of the panorama size, the control portion 21proceeds to step 32.

In this step S32, the control portion 21 requests the digital camera 10to send image data representing the (current) image No. m. Then, in stepS33, the inputted image data representing the image of the panoramasize, namely, this image No. m is printed in such a manner that thissingle image is printed on a row or line. Subsequently, the controlportion 21 proceeds to step S35 whereupon the variable m is updated bybeing changed into (m+1). In step S35, it is judged whether or not thevariable m reaches (n+1). If N, the control portion 21 returns to stepS30. In contrast, if Y, the control portion 21 returns to step S36.

In the aforesaid process of repeating steps S22 to S35, if a codeindicating an end of image data is detected or recognized in step S23,the control portion 21 advances to step S37.

If there are image data representing pictures, which are not yet printedand are stored in the buffer memory 22, in step S37, such pictures, thenumber of which is not more than 4, of the normal size are printed on aline. Thus, the printing of all of the pictures of the normal size iscompleted. As a consequence of the herein-above described operation, aresultant print is obtained in a manner where the pictures are arrangedin the outputting order that is different from the order based on thenumbers respectively assigned to the pictures, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

Other Embodiments

Further, image data inputted in steps S5 and S16 is accompanied with theimage No. n of a picture represented by the inputted image data. Whenprinting the image data in step S8 or S17, the image No. n is printed inthe neighborhood (for example, an upper part) of each of the pictures.Thus, the corresponding relation between the picture and the image No.becomes quite obvious. Consequently, the selection of the picture isfurther facilitated.

Moreover, in the foregoing description of the aforementioned first andsecond embodiments, each embodiment uses a digital camera as an imageinput device and directly connects the digital camera to thephotoprinter. However, the present invention can be applied to the casewhere image data is inputted to this image processing apparatus from astorage medium which stores digital image data. At that time, theapparatus may be provided with means for detecting size information onthe size of each picture in such a way as to automatically detect thesize information. Alternatively, the apparatus may be adapted so thatsize information is manually inputted by a user. Furthermore, concerningthe image Nos., the apparatus may be similarly adapted as the case ofdetecting size information.

Further, in the foregoing descriptions of the first and secondembodiments, there have been described the embodiments in each of whichthe photoprinter is used as the image output device. However, thepresent invention may be applied to the case that the pictures areoutputted in a manner in which the pictures are arranged on a virtualsheet to be displayed on the screen of a display device.

Moreover, in the foregoing descriptions of the first and secondembodiments, there have been described the embodiments in each of whichthe control portion is provided in the photoprinter. The apparatus,however, may be configured so that a general purpose personal computerperforms operations, which are similar to those performed by the controlportion 21, in accordance with a program stored in a removable storagemedium such as CD-ROM or a floppy disk.

Furthermore, in the foregoing descriptions of the first and secondembodiments, there have been described embodiments that employ a mixtureof input pictures having two different size ratios, namely, inputpictures of the normal size and the panorama size, which are differentin aspect ratio from each other. However, a plurality of pictures havingthree kinds of different size ratios, for instance, a classic size ratio(2:3) employed in a new system camera, an aspect ratio (9:16) employedin a high definition television (HD-TV) system and a panorama aspectratio (1:3), may be used as input pictures. Additionally, a plurality ofpictures having more than three kinds of different size ratios (oraspect ratios) may be used as input pictures. In addition, the presentinvention can be applied to the case that pictures having practicallydifferent aspect ratios are used even if the size ratios thereof areequal to one another, for example, the case that is called alongitudinally-oriented picture, namely, a landscape picture isdistinguished from what is called a transversely-oriented picture,namely, a portrait picture among pictures of a normal size.

As described above, in accordance with the present invention, there isprovided an image processing apparatus for outputting an index print ofinformation representing a plurality of images, which comprises: inputmeans for inputting the plurality of images to which numbers arerespectively assigned; means for detecting size information on imagesizes of the plurality of images; decision means for determining anoutputting order, which is different from a numerical order determinedby the numbers respectively assigned to the plurality of images,according to the size information on image sizes of the plurality ofimages; and output means for outputting the plurality of imagesaccording to the outputting order. Thus, an image processing apparatusfor laying out a plurality of pictures of different sizes can obtain anindex print, which excels in the indexing ability and has a good or fineappearance, without making a useless or wasteful space on the printingpaper.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed above, it should be understood that the present invention isnot limited thereto and that other modifications will be apparent tothose skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

The scope of the present invention, therefore, is to be determinedsolely by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image processing apparatus for outputting alist including a plurality of images, comprising: input means forinputting the images; detection means for detecting size information ofthe images inputted by said input means; and output means for outputtingthe images inputted by said input means in a predetermined placement inaccordance with the size information detected by said detection means,wherein said output means outputs the images detected by said detectionmeans as having a first size in a first placement and after outputtingthe images in the first placement, outputs the images detected by saiddetection means as taking a size different from the first size in asecond placement.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theimages inputted by said input means are images having numbers and saidoutput means outputs the images based on the numbers.
 3. An apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein said output means starts to output theimages in an order of numbers in the second placement after finishingoutputting the images in an order of numbers in the first placement. 4.An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said output means outputs theimages in the order of numbers in the first placement and outputs theimages in the order of numbers in the second placement switching fromone placement to another by a row.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 2,wherein said input means is an image input apparatus.
 6. An apparatusaccording to claim 5, wherein the size is a size determined based on anaspect ratio of the image.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 6, whereinsaid image input apparatus is a digital camera, the first size is anormal size, and the size different from the first size is a panoramasize.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first placementis a placement, in which a plurality of images of normal size arearranged in an order of numbers in a row and the second placement is aplacement, in which images of panorama size that are fewer than thefirst placement are arranged in an order of numbers in a row.
 9. Anapparatus according to claim 8, wherein in the second placement in onerow one image of panorama size is placed.
 10. An apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the outputting of a list is an index print which printsthe images outputted by said output means on a sheet.
 11. An apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said image processing apparatus is aprinter.
 12. An image processing apparatus for outputting a listincluding a plurality of images, comprising: detection means fordetecting size information of images inputted from an image inputapparatus; input control means for controlling the image input from saidimage input apparatus in accordance with the size information detectedby said detection means; and output means for outputting in order theimages input from said image input apparatus, wherein said input controlmeans controls said input means in order that said input means inputsthe image detected as having a first size by said detection means inorder of a number and after inputting a predetermined number of theimages of the first size inputs an image of a size different from thefirst size in order of the number.
 13. An apparatus according to claim12, wherein the images inputted by said image input apparatus are imageshaving a number and said output means outputs the images based on thenumber.
 14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said outputmeans outputs images inputted by said input apparatus by a row in orderof the number.
 15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein saidinput control means controls the image input so that after input ofimages of the first size is finished, input of images of the sizedifferent from the first size starts.
 16. An apparatus according toclaim 14, wherein said input control means controls the image input sothat the input of images of said first size and the input of images ofthe size different from said first size are switched by a row in orderof the number.
 17. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the sizeis a size determined on a basis of an aspect ratio of the image.
 18. Anapparatus according to claim 17, wherein said image input apparatus is adigital camera, and the first size is a normal size and the sizedifferent form the first size is a panorama size.
 19. An apparatusaccording to claim 18, wherein said input control means carries out theinput of images of a same size continuously until said output meansoutputs a number of image corresponding to one row and numberscorresponding to the one row are more in a normal size than in apanorama size.
 20. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein theoutputting of a list is an index print which prints the images outputtedby said output means on a sheet.
 21. An apparatus according to claim 12,wherein said image processing apparatus is a printer.
 22. An imageprocessing method of outputting a list including a plurality of images,comprising: an input step, of inputting the images; a detection step, ofdetecting size information of the images inputted by said input step;and an output step, of outputting the images inputted by said input stepin a predetermined placement in accordance with the size informationdetected by said detection step, wherein said output step outputs theimages detected by said detection step as taking a first size in a firstplacement and after outputting the images in the first placement andoutputs the images detected by said detection step as taking a sizedifferent from the first size in a second placement.
 23. An imageprocessing method of outputting a list including a plurality of images,comprising; a detection step, of detecting size information of imagesinputted from an image input apparatus; an input control step, ofcontrolling the image input from said image input apparatus inaccordance with the size information detected by said detection step;and an output step, of outputting in order the images input from saidimage input apparatus, wherein said input control step controls saidinput step in order that said input step inputs the image detected astaking a first size of said detection step in order of a number andafter inputting a predetermined number of the images of the first sizeinputs an image of a size different from the first size in order of thenumber.
 24. A computer readable medium having recorded thereon code forimplementing a computer implementable image processing method ofoutputting a list including a plurality of images, comprising: code foran input step, of inputting the images; code for a detection step, ofdetecting size information of the images inputted by said input step;and code for an output step, of outputting the images inputted by saidinput step in a predetermined placement in accordance with the sizeinformation detected by said detection step, wherein said output stepoutputs the images detected by said detection step as taking a firstsize in a first placement and after outputting the images in the firstplacement and outputs the images detected by said detection step astaking a size different from the first size in a second placement.
 25. Acomputer readable medium having recorded thereon code for implementing acomputer implementable image processing method of outputting a listincluding a plurality of images, comprising; code for a detection step,of detecting size information of images inputted from an image inputapparatus; code for an input control step, of controlling the imageinput from said image input apparatus in accordance with the sizeinformation detected by said detection step; and code for an outputstep, of outputting in order the images input from said image inputapparatus, wherein said input control step controls said input step inorder that said input step inputs the image detected as taking a firstsize of said detection step in order of a number and after inputting apredetermined number of the images of the first size inputs an image ofa size different from the first size in order of the number.